Good choice. I think you made the right decision by cting this game, since the next one will be against Netherland and you can TIE there.
As for Kirkpatrick, it's a shame that is gameshape is as it is, and I think that for this week it'll be very difficult to make it rise, since he will have to do less than 37 minutes in order to raise his gameshape. And for that, he will need to play as substitute, or as starter but with a good substitute to replace him. So I think Kirkpattrick will not be in shape for the next 2 weeks.
PS: I think that the talk with the managers had to be done in the first week after the elections. You lost valuable time by delaying this action